Of course, we can't hear the Italian this bishop is using, only the spontaneous interpretive translation of the English voice over. Perhaps in Italian there is a finer nuance than the English translation?
At any rate, I would agree with what this bishop is saying about the "swamp air" that Holy Mother Church has been breathing for some time now (to put it indelicately as a famous Vatican liturgist recently described the situation of the Church prior to Pope Francis). We are indeed breathing a fresh air and moving forward in a way none of us expected so quickly.
Actually, the good bishop-rector could have stated his position a bit better by saying there is continuity but also newness with Pope Francis in comparison to Pope Benedict.
10 comments:
"I believe that Pope Francis is a figure of discontinuity with the previous pontificate."
These are exact the words of the good bishop himself, speaking in English. They are not the words of a voice-over translation.
He's just telling it like it is. He goes on to add that he thinks this discontinuity is good.
Unfortunately, there are undoubtedly many children of the 1970s in Rome and elsewhere who agree with him.
Henry, his mouth is not with the words that are being heard. I think it is definitely a voice over from a translator that was done subsequent to the taping of the interview.
After watching it several times, still seems to me that the bishop is speaking in English. Such a lack of synchronization is not uncommon in youtube videos. Looks real to me. And sounds right. The ring of truth is convincing.
Even if the word "discontunity" was not the precise one he used, his subsequent remarks--in which it is repeated--indicate clearly that it's what he meant. Don't know about Italian, but what other common English word fits the context so well?
Again, why contest the obvious? That whether for good or bad, we are witnessing a sharp discontinuity between successive papacies that is itself a discontinuity with Church history and tradition.
Vatican Council I in Chapter IV "Concerning the Infallible Teachingof the Roman Pontiff" states:
"For the Holy Spirit was not promised to the successors of Peter, that by His revelation they might make known new doctrine, but that by His assistance they might inviolably keep and faithfully expound the revelation or deposit of faith delivered through the Apostles."
The dogmas remain the same any interpretation of them not in keeping with them readily lends itself to scandal and schism. Infallibility was thought to be needed to avoid heresy and schisms.
In the current situation many think that the boundary has been breached and schism de facto has existed since the close of Vatican Council II. If things go in the same direction as they seem the Holy Father will confirm many of our worst fears.
If one measures the success of a pontificate by the personal popularity of the pontiff and whether everyone who hates the Church loves him, then I suppose you could call the election of Francis a resounding success. However, in all other substantive respects, this pontificate is an unmitigated disaster. It speaks well of you father to watch you bend over backwards and exercise such mental gymnastics to defend this pope, because your intention is to be faithful and defend the Church. But at some point, you are going to realize that you are defending a pope who…well, you'll get it.
There are moments of similarity, but for the most part, I think there's a substantial difference between the two. While not an intrinsic evil, I definitely do not think it's a good thing
What on earth has he done to deserve all this negativity? In truth, the concrete changes Pope Francis has made to date are minimal. And his extraordinary popularity among Catholics, non-Catholics, and anti-Catholics alike isn't a sign of his errant liberalism: rather, people can see that he's a good, kind and holy man, and can't get enough of it in an age of cynical, soulless individualism. The worst that can be said of him, surely, is that he's a little impulsive, and prone to express himself with less than optimal precision.
Amen! And exactly! In some ways Pope Francis is a Christ figure having his own being so suspicious and rejecting.
Uh Oh. The Bishop-Rector certainly used the wrong word, especially for some on this blog. Let's hope the translation was not what it should have been (the word was not what he actually said or meant). Listening to the video, I came away with the
impression that he was referring to discontinuity of STYLE.
Father McDonald said: “Amen! And exactly! In some ways Pope Francis is a Christ figure having his own being so suspicious and rejecting.”
So, once again, and in yet one more way: “Crucify him, crucify him.”
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